Pulpit Magazine

(By Phil Johnson)

Part III: Some book recommendations

Before we go further in this series, let me recommend a handful of books. The first book I want to recommend is a new book by Roger Olson, who is himself an Arminian, and he has written a defense of Arminianism titled Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities. You might be surprised to hear me recommend this book because I published a review of it on my weblog a few months ago, and the review wasn’t altogether positive. The review was written by my friend Gary Johnson, who is pastor of The Church Of The Redeemer in Mesa, Arizona. Gary’s mentor, by the way, was S. Lewis Johnson. And even though we are all three named Johnson, none of us are related. (Though I would be very happy to be related to either S. Lewis Johnson or Gary Johnson.) Anyway, Gary’s review was in several parts, and he titled it “Calvinists in the Hands of an Angry Arminian.” So it wasn’t a completely positive review, and I agree with practically all of Gary’s complaints about the book. Continue Reading »

(By Nathan Williams) 

Russell Moore argues that we should support Israel in time of war.

“We know that these are the kinsmen according to the flesh of our Messiah. There’s a reason, therefore, the Powers rage against them so. A Christian anti-Semite is a contradiction in terms.”

There is a very interesting interview over at the 9marks blog on the exclusivity of monologue preaching with Steve Timmis, author of the book Total Church.

“Trying to do it all” is the number 1 stupidest thing a pastor can do in a church, at least according to a new book, entitled Ten Stupid Things That Keep Churches from Growing. (It seems to us that things like a lack of Christ-centeredness or a lack of biblical fidelity would have been better candidates for number 1. Then again, if numerical growth is the primary goal … )

(By Phil Johnson)

Part II: Spurgeon: “Calvinism IS the Gospel” There are, these days, quite a few self-styled Calvinists who disagree with my assessment of Arminianism and insist that Arminianism entails an absolute denial of certain fundamental gospel truths. Those wishing to make that argument will invariably quote a famous statement by Spurgeon, taken from the chapter in his autobiography titled “A Defence of Calvinism” in which Spurgeon said this:

I have my own private opinion that there is no such thing as preaching Christ and Him crucified, unless we preach what nowadays is called Calvinism. It is a nickname to call it Calvinism; Calvinism is the gospel, and nothing else. I do not believe we can preach the gospel, if we do not preach justification by faith, without works; nor unless we preach the sovereignty of God in His dispensation of grace; nor unless we exalt the electing, unchangeable, eternal, immutable, conquering love of Jehovah; nor do I think we can preach the gospel, unless we base it upon the special and particular redemption of His elect and chosen people which Christ wrought out upon the cross; nor can I comprehend a gospel which lets saints fall away after they are called, and suffers the children of God to be burned in the fires of damnation after having once believed in Jesus. Such a gospel I abhor. Continue Reading »

(By Nathan Williams)

 George Barna is reporting that Christianity is no longer the default religion of Americans. Barna says one of the implications of the surveys he performed is that people are now serving more often as their own “theologian in-residence”. They pick and choose what beliefs they will embrace and in many instances people end up holding to contradictory positions. What a tragic result of postmodernism!

 Seriously? This guy claims to be the antichrist and has a church called Growing in Grace Church. He also lost a recent divorce settlement case.

 Finally, pray for the small number of Christians living in Gaza. According to some sources, Hamas has implemented Sharia Law which includes legalizing the crucifixion of Christians.

(By Phil Johnson)

This post is adapted from a transcript of a seminar from a recent Shepherds’ Conference, titled “Closet Calvinists.”

Part I: Is Arminianism damnable heresy?

I love the doctrines of grace and don’t shy away from the label “Calvinist.” I believe in the sovereignty of God. I’m convinced Scripture teaches that God is completely sovereign not only in salvation (effectually calling and granting faith to those whom He chooses); but also in every detail of the outworking of Providence. “Whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified” (Romans 8:30). And He makes “all things work together for good to those who love God, [i.e.,] to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). Quite simply, He “works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11). Continue Reading »